Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, talk during one ogbonge event for Abuja, where dem launch XeJet Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility, talk say Nigeria wan start aircraft manufacturing. Di whole tin dey sweet for ear as dem talk about how e go make Nigeria di center for West Africa aviation. Dem even talk say e go bring plenty jobs, after XeJet CEO Emmanuel Iza talk how dem wan even start to dey manufacture aircraft parts like wings and landing gears.

E sweet for ear. But look am well, e be like person wey never get shoe dey plan build aeroplane.

Fuel price increase wahala don turn reality. Pipo dey pack dia moto for house, manage pay transport fare, food price dey climb like Mount Everest. So, why government go dey reason aircraft when pipo never fit enter bus? Dis kain matter dey make pesin wonder if dem dey hear wetin Nigerians dey complain about.

Wait, make we slice dis mata small small like kpomo for soup, make e dey easy to chop. Aircraft manufacturing no be child’s play. Di money e go chop fit solve plenty problem for Nigeria. We dey talk billions of dollars—di kind dollars wey if e enter education or health care, e fit change things. For di kind situation wey we dey now, di question wey dey our mind be: wetin Nigeria need pass—Aero plane factory or cheaper transport for ground?

Another thing na di skill wey you go need. Aircraft manufacturing na serious business, no be wetin apprentice go learn for two weeks. Na years of training and experience, plus di kind big technology wey Nigeria no even get yet. To even reach small level for di industry, na long road dem go waka to reach talkless of high level own. But for the other side, to fix fuel and transport issues go dey quicker and easier if we focus well.

E get one talk wey Emmanuel Iza talk—say dem wan multiply jobs wey dem don already create. E sweet for ear, but e dey realistic? Aircraft manufacturing no go create jobs wey plenty Nigerians fit do immediately. Most work go need heavy training. But if na to manufacture vehicles wey dey use natural gas (CNG), jobs go spread well well because di skill wey e need no too complex like aircraft own.

Aircraft manufacturing go need market. Na who go dey buy di Aeroplane? Local market no reach, and di international market get big, big players like Boeing and Airbus wey don dey dia for years. Nigeria no even go fit compete for dat level without di right certification and reputation. But, if na CNG vehicles, di demand go dey high for Nigeria and even di entire Africa because di transport system go benefit from cheaper fuel.

You don hear about di plenty natural gas wey Nigeria get? We suppose use wetin we get. Instead to invest billions to build aircraft factory and aircraft, government fit invest am inside CNG vehicles factory. E go solve fuel wahala, reduce transport cost, reduce cost of living, reduce dependence on fuel  and still give plenty jobs. Nigerians go rush CNG motors wey no go burn pocket like di regular fuel motors.

Di infrastructure wey dem dey talk about for di aircraft factory go cost die. Taxiway, runway, di maintenance facility—di money no be small. But if na CNG infrastructure, di cost go dey reasonable, and di impact go dey quick and broad. You go fit see di change for road, see di jobs, and even di environment go clean because CNG dey burn cleaner pass petrol or diesel.

Wetin dey pain pass na di scale of preference wey di government dey use put. Nigerians dey hustle to survive, and government dey plan aircraft. E go make sense if dem channel dat energy go areas wey go really touch lives—like education, health care, or even di power sector wey still dey do anyhow. Instead of to dey fly for air, make dem first stand gidigba for ground.

If dem wan make di aviation dream work, make dem no rush am. Di basic things need to dey first. Di country suppose get beta roads, stable power, good education, and affordable transport before dem go begin dey look skyward. Aircraft manufacturing na luxury wey Nigeria no fit afford for now.

Di XeJet project wey dem launch dey try, no doubt. E good say dem wan make Nigeria di hub for maintenance and repair for West Africa. But make dem no bite pass wetin dem fit chew. Di maintenance side fit still dey grow while dem dey reason how to solve di pressing problems wey dey face di country.

For di whole matter, e get as e be. Di idea of aircraft manufacturing dey ambitious and sweet for ear, but di timing no make sense. Di fuel price wahala dey choke, and di solution no be airplane. Wetin we need na beta road transport system wey go dey affordable and effective. CNG motors fit change di game for Nigerians, reduce di cost of transport, and help everybody live beta life. Na dia we suppose dey focus for now.

No be bad thing to dream big, but no be di right time. If Nigeria go move forward, we go need leaders wey sabi wetin dey important for di moment and sabi prioritize. Di future fit hold aircraft for us, but for now, make we face ground first before we look sky.